New charges filed in human trafficking case

Friday

Aug 4, 2017 at 4:00 PM

David Panian Daily Telegram News Editor @lenaweepanian

ADRIAN — New charges were filed Thursday against an Adrian man accused of selling a teenager for sex.

The human-trafficking charges also were refiled to correct an error in the original arrest warrant that listed the incorrect statute numbers for the laws that Ray Jerrill-Bruce Culbertson, 45, is accused of breaking, Lenawee County District Judge Jonathan L. Poer told Culbertson during Thursday’s arraignment.

Culbertson was scheduled for a preliminary examination Thursday on the human trafficking charges and several drug charges from a separate incident. The new charges delayed that hearing, with a new preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 10, and a preliminary examination on Aug. 17.

The new charges are two counts of accepting the earnings of a prostitute. The other charges are human trafficking of a minor for sexual activity and engaging in a human trafficking enterprise.

Culbertson and a woman, Kayla Young-Cooke, are accused of taking in a 17-year-old at their home and forcing the teen to work as a prostitute from January to March. Michigan State Police investigated the case and in an affidavit in the court files said the teen would turn over to Culbertson money paid for the “dates” in exchange for cocaine.

Police stated the teen had been living with his or her parents before moving in with Culbertson and the woman.

Culbertson’s bond was changed to $400,000. He remains lodged at the Lenawee County Jail.

Young-Cooke had her preliminary examination before Poer rescheduled from Tuesday to Sept. 20 for medical reasons, according to the court.